2015: The Security Question In Rivers

The A.K. Horsefall Foun
dation and the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Thursday, March 20, 2014, held a joint one-day Peace and Security Conference at the Omni Events Centre, Eastern Bypass, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.
The conference was aimed at promoting peaceful atmosphere in the state, especially as political activities begin ahead of the 2015 general election. A conglomeration  of critical stakeholders reached a consensus at the conference on how best to ensure a crisis-free Rivers State before and after the election.
During the occasion, the ugly scenario that characterised the 2003 general election in the state was articulated and a resolution reached never to  return to the dark days of hostility and desperation.
Participants at the conference included students union leaders, religious and political leaders, women and youth groups, professional associations, security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, among others.
In his opening remark, the chairman of the conference, Ambassador Chukwudi Orike, described the theme of the conference as apt and thanked the conveners. Defining peace as an occurrence of harmony characterised by the absence of violence, Orike described it as something that was difficult to achieve.
He outlined bad governance, marginalisation, abuse of power, insensitive governance, criminalisation of politics and the politicisation of crime etc as the causes of violence in the state.
“The theme of this conference, ‘Peace and Security in Rivers State’ would not have come at a better time, especially when highly volatile issues of state and national concerns are currently in the frontburner of our national politics. Peace is a necessary pre-condition of life on earth. It is a necessary pre-condition of life  on earth. It is a necessary condition for success, for development, for prosperity and progress. It is therefore not surprising that all religions of the poor preach peace. Peace appears to be very difficult to achieve in spite of the efforts made by various religions,” Orike said.
In a keynote address, the founder of A.K. Horsefall Foundation and facilitator of the conference, Chief Albert Horsefall, said the conference aimed at sounding the warning of an impending conflict much earlier in order to avert a crisis. He took a swipe at bad politicians and described a good politician as one who seeks victory through the ballot box. The security chief also described the bad politician as one who uses deception to win election and end up representing no one.
“Let us save our state from bad groups. We should stand up and challenge those who exhibit bad behaviour in our state. Security affects everybody. We should challenge those relatives of ours who take up guns and take others’ lives.
“Our youths should reject bad politicians and ask for education. Rivers State has suffered too much harm for no fault of the people. When elections are gone, they abandon the youths with their guns. The youths face the society and become a problem. We must act now and not wait for the calamity to befall us,” Horsefall indicated.
The NUJ, Rivers State Council, was not left out from the search for peace in Rivers State particularly ahead of the 2015 general election. Its chairman, Mr Opaka Dokubo, commended Chief A.K. Horsefall for the initiative and stated that it was time for peace. He recalled the role the union had played in the maintenance of peace in the state and said the conference offered a platform to discuss peace and security. He advised Rivers people to mobilise their constituencies for peace.
“Deep down in our hearts every individual here do not feel we are where we ought to be. It is no longer fashionable for us to sit down and watch. There is a need for us to act. It is time for peace. We don’t want the ugly experience of the past again,” Dokubo declared.
On his part, the regional co-ordinator, Nigeria Security and Reconciliation Programme warned that 2015 was a season to make or mar the state. He emphasised the benefits of peace and security in the state and described the mission of the conference as one to stop the escalation of violence.
The Assistant Secretary-General, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Zone B, (South South/South East), Comrade Ledogo Amabu, saw the emergence of a two-mega party system in Nigeria as having altered the political equation and “carry-go” philosophy ahead of the 2015 general election. According to him, this change required a new set of thinking and strategy to contain the ensuing challenges in Rivers State in order to avoid a repeat of the ugly incidence that trailed the 2003 election.
Amabu advised youths and students, who he described as the most vulnerable group during election, to shun quick monetary and material rewards by politicians or godfathers.
“The youths and students are the most vulnerable group during election. They are lured with quick monetary and material rewards, by sweet-talking godfathers, who conscript them to do their biddings at their own risk. These unsuspecting youths who are in most cases armed with dangerous weapons by their principals, lose relevance as soon as elections are over.
“In their bid to maintain certain false social standards, they graduate into armed robbery and illegal bunkering, creating crisis. This trend must not continue. We must take steps to salvage our communities, LGAs, State and country,” Amabu admonished.
A journalist and women’s representative at the conference, Constance Meju, lamented the situation where young people were armed with guns while girls were abused during politically-induced crisis in the State. She recalled that Rivers State used to be peaceful, but had been overtaken by violence. She called on the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the State to be neutral in the discharge of their duties.
“Rivers women are afraid because of 2015. We want a very neutral security. A police that will do to A what it will do to B. INEC should help Rivers people to enjoy democracy. If this is done, there will be no need for crisis. They should give us peaceful election,” pleaded Meju.
The National President of Rivers Youth Federation, Comrade Adokiye Mujiton, spoke in a similar vein and admonished security agencies to take responsibility for any breakdown of law and order in the state.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) INEC, Rivers State, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, used the platform to declare that INEC was making innovations that would make election rigging difficult. According to him, the process, when completed, would make the electorate the main deciders and owners of the election. Hear him:
“It is expected that if these innovations of INEC are applied in 2015 general elections, free, fair and credible elections will be achieved. People-centred election will also be achieved because rigging will be difficult, snatching of ballot boxes, thuggery will not be fashionable. Actual voting will be the issue in 2015 general elections. This process will, no doubt, make the electorate the main deciders and owners of the election.”
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, who spoke through his representative at the conference, DCP Alkali Shaka, agreed that there were security challenges in the state relating to the 2015 election. He said the constitution makes it clear that security is the primary purpose of government and assured that the police would provide security adequately.
“The constitution makes it clear that security is the primary purpose of government. Security is the live wire of any society. Without peace and security, the socio/economic aspiration of the people cannot be attained. And it is the duty of the police to provide same,” Ogunsakin assured.
Ogunsakin was not alone in the promise of providing security for the state during the election; his army counterpart and Brigade Commander 2nd Amphibious Brigade, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Major-General A.Y. Sambo, who was represented by Major Micheal Etete, assured that the Nigerian Army would work to ensure that there was peace and security in Rivers  State.
Also at the occasion, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) representative, Pastor M.O. Etete, asserted that security was everyone’s business and that the provision of good governance, he said, would attract security. He called on the government to provide jobs for the youths in order to resist the offer to take up guns. He, however, assured that the PDP would ensure that security was provided.
Similarly, his All Progressives Congress (APC), counterpart, Mr Andy Nweye, said members of both parties were one, and denounced the need for violence. He asked law enforcement agents to perform their duty by arresting offenders.

Arnold Alalibo

From Left: Director, News, Rivers State Television, Mr Obele Chu, Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade, Maj. Micheal Etete and Assistant Secretary, Trade Union Congress, Rivers State, Mr Raymond Benson, at the Peace and Security Conference in Port Harcourt last Thursday. Photo: NAN